Hopefully the gambling gods will show us some “love” on valentines weekend!
Loyola Chicago vs Drake +3.5 O/U 133 –
- This is certainly the best game of the weekend.
- Both of these teams are in the top 10 for FG%
- Loyola plays a little slower and Drake plays a little faster.
- Drake has the rebounding advantage ranking 45th in the league at 39 per game to Loyola ranking 299th in the league at 32 per game.
- Loyola has the better FG percentage by a small margin but they certainly have the better defense ranking 8th on Kenpom in defensive efficiency to Drake’s 75th.
- I have Loyola winning this game 70-65 but I think that the first half is the better play.
- Cameron Krutwig is compared to Ethan Happ and he should be. Teams don’t have an answer for him down low and he scores in such creative ways. I think that it takes Drake some time to adjust to him. I also noticed that Loyola has been starting many of their away games on fire lately and they always seem to win the game in the first half.
Loyola Chicago 1st half -2 – 2 stars
Oklahoma vs West Virginia -2.5 – O/U 144
Oklahoma has been on a tear lately with wins vs Alabama and Texas. Their only hiccup was about a week again vs Texas Tech but they since have beaten Iowa State. One thing that I found interesting for the Sooners is that they tend to score a lot more points at home rather than on the road. They average 79 per game at home and a mere 67 on the road. I also think that number would be even lower without that high scoring Texas road win a few weeks back when they shot over 34 free throws. I think that this is a spot where West Virginia can seal themselves as the second best team in the Big 12 behind Baylor. Oklahoma has a big weakness in 3 point defense. The Sooners rank 294th at 37% defending the 3 while West Virginia ranks 38th at 37.4% shooting the 3. West Virginia also ranks 9th in offensive rebounds so they are able to clean up their misses pretty well. I am going to take the Mountaineers here and I like them all the way to -4.5
West Virginia -2.5 – 2 star
Iowa vs Michigan State +4.5 O/U 153
- Michigan State isn’t a good team this year and the only reason that they covered at Iowa a few weeks back was due to Iowa trying to get fouled at the end rather than playing smart offense.
- Iowa still has some defensive woes and part of the reason that they beat Rutgers and covered was due to Rutgers very low 3 point percentage at 20% that game.
- Michigan State is sloppy on both sides of the ball. Joey Hauser likes to hang out on the perimiter and that doesn’t help Michigan State down low at all.
- Both of these 2 teams tend to play pretty high paced basketball but Michigan State has not been putting up many points against inferior big 10 teams scoring 66 on the road at Nebraska and 60 at home vs Penn State.
- I think that this is a statement game for Iowa after that long losing streak. Iowa has that great offense ranking number 1 on Kenpom and Michigan State won’t be able to slow them down.
- I think Iowa covers this game at the short number here.
Iowa -4.5 – 2 stars
